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12th out of 24 books
—
24 voters
Watch Me Throw the Ball! (Elephant and Piggie #8)
by
Mo Willems
Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.
Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.
Gerald and Piggie are best friends.
In Watch Me Throw the Ball!, Gerald is determined to teach Piggie that ball-throwing is serious business... but Piggie is just as determined to have serious fun.
Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.
Gerald and Piggie are best friends.
In Watch Me Throw the Ball!, Gerald is determined to teach Piggie that ball-throwing is serious business... but Piggie is just as determined to have serious fun.
Hardcover, 64 pages
Published
March 17th 2009
by Disney-Hyperion
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although i hate it when mo willems draws these characters because they are uggee, this story is too much fun to criticize. and it teaches a valuable lesson about how delusions must be indulged even if they are unpopular, like questioning the moon landing or being suspicious of twins or thinking that death to smoochie is a great movie. thank you, sir.
Gerald is careful. Piggie is not. Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald and Piggie are best friends. In Watch Me Throw the Ball!, Gerald is determined to teach Piggie that ball-throwing is serious business... but Piggie is just as determined to have serious fun. (Goodreads Summary)
Watch Me Throw the Ball! (Elephant and Piggie) by Mo Willems is a hilarious look at Piggie the Optimist versus Elephant the Pessimist. It's also about impulse versus caution. With his simple but hysterical illu...more
Gerald and Piggie are best friends. In Watch Me Throw the Ball!, Gerald is determined to teach Piggie that ball-throwing is serious business... but Piggie is just as determined to have serious fun. (Goodreads Summary)
Watch Me Throw the Ball! (Elephant and Piggie) by Mo Willems is a hilarious look at Piggie the Optimist versus Elephant the Pessimist. It's also about impulse versus caution. With his simple but hysterical illu...more
I will just give a generic review of this series.....We love them. They are so dang funny. It amazes me that with just a few pen strokes Willems can convey so many different emotions. The illustrations are hilarious and the story line is always entertaining. They are great books for reading out loud in dramatic ways. They're also great for kids wanting something to read on their own, or with a parent. Sometimes I'll read the Pig part (because I'm a girl) and my boys will read the Elephant part (...more
There aren't many easy reader series out there that are as funny as the Elephant and Piggy books. These have very simple illustrations and a lot of very emotional turns of phrase, so hopefully you can start from the beginning keeping kids from developing that awful droning readaloud voice so many children have.
Piggie catches a ball and wants to throw it. NATURALLY, Gerald takes everything too seriously, talking about how long it takes to learn to throw a ball. Piggie throws it... AROUND THE WORL...more
Piggie catches a ball and wants to throw it. NATURALLY, Gerald takes everything too seriously, talking about how long it takes to learn to throw a ball. Piggie throws it... AROUND THE WORL...more
I love this book! Watch Me Throw the Ball! is filled to the brim with all the best of Mo Willems as author, along with his perfectly expressive illustrations; and when I say "perfectly expressive" here, I'm talking about work of true understated genius!
The story bulges with charm, humor and sweetness all the way through, the kind of creation that I might expect to see from author/illustrator Kevin Henkes. Elephant and Piggie are terrific characters who say funny and unexpected things at every...more
The story bulges with charm, humor and sweetness all the way through, the kind of creation that I might expect to see from author/illustrator Kevin Henkes. Elephant and Piggie are terrific characters who say funny and unexpected things at every...more
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Out of all the Elephant and Piggie stories this one is probably my favorite, probably because I was such a high strung, shy child and this is something that I myself could have benefited from hearing. In fact, I probably still could. As for the story its self I had so much fun with this one that as soon as we finished it was promptly read again and again, the lesson about the ball easily extended into the reading lesson.
Gerald has a ball, and as usual once Piggie wants to join in he happily lets...more
Gerald has a ball, and as usual once Piggie wants to join in he happily lets...more
In this delightful Elephant and Piggie book, Piggie wants to throw the ball after he sees Elephant do it, but Elephant warns him that there is a lot more to throwing a ball than you think. Piggie listens to all of Elephant's advice and then gives it a go...but things don't turn out quite how Elephant thought they should. In the end though, it is Elephant that learns the greater lesson....just have fun!! This is such a cute and fun book with simple illustrations and comical bubble text...kids are...more
Piggie is excited about showing off his ball throwing skills. He actually loses control of the ball and it goes behind him, which Elephant knows but Piggie does not (or at least pretends not to know!)
Gerald the Elephant becomes frustrated trying to explain to Piggie that she is really not a great ball thrower, but Piggie ends up teaching Elephant a lesson about play.
Chosen by Drew as a birthday gift using his B & N gift card when I took him shopping with my teacher discount card.
Gerald the Elephant becomes frustrated trying to explain to Piggie that she is really not a great ball thrower, but Piggie ends up teaching Elephant a lesson about play.
Chosen by Drew as a birthday gift using his B & N gift card when I took him shopping with my teacher discount card.
Wow--Piggie is awesome in this. Her expressions, her attitude, her sillyness. And I love the ending, of course.
I think I like this book even more because that's exactly how I am with sports! Well, not thinking that I threw the ball around the world. But trying, it never going where it "should," and me loving it because I had fun. Sports are all about fun for me, not really about the competition. That alone moved the book from 4 stars to 5 stars.
I think I like this book even more because that's exactly how I am with sports! Well, not thinking that I threw the ball around the world. But trying, it never going where it "should," and me loving it because I had fun. Sports are all about fun for me, not really about the competition. That alone moved the book from 4 stars to 5 stars.
You see why my goal this year is for 100 books? Because I can count the ones I read with my 7 year old. And really they should count because even if it's a picture book, if it's Elephant and Piggie, we read it about 100 times each. So yeah, it counts :-)
I love this one because I love piggies attitude about playing, that's what bumped it up to a 4th star. Otherwise it would have been back down at average for Mo.
I love this one because I love piggies attitude about playing, that's what bumped it up to a 4th star. Otherwise it would have been back down at average for Mo.
I was looking for beginning readers for Katie, and ran on to this series at the library. This was such a joy to read!!! If you are looking for a book to read with or to your little ones, I have to recommend them all. So stinkin' cute. I'm going to have to buy them. I was laughing through the whole book. Mo Willems is a genius. With the few words and clever, simplistic art, I think everyone will love these.
We picked up this book on a whim while looking through easy reader books at the library. Our whole family loved this book! My 4 year old is completely delighted with this book. He is so excited to read it that he is working out the words on his own and is enjoying the beginning steps into the wonderful world of reading. We can't wait to get our hands on more Elephant & Piggie books!
I think if I had read this before my second son was learning to read, I would have failed to appreciate it.
But after listening to my son read it out loud (screaming with glee all the all-caps words), I. am. smitten. This is silly, and funny, and delightful. It's a perfect book for energetic, silly kids who've just learned to read. Can't wait to read more by the same author.
But after listening to my son read it out loud (screaming with glee all the all-caps words), I. am. smitten. This is silly, and funny, and delightful. It's a perfect book for energetic, silly kids who've just learned to read. Can't wait to read more by the same author.
Sep 16, 2009
Dolly
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
beginning readers and parents reading with them
This is another fun "Elephant and Piggie" book by Mo Willems. We really enjoy these stories, even though there's very little plot to them. Our girls enjoy the onomatopoeia and silly dialogue and although the book is a bit long, our oldest was able to read the whole book with little assistance from me. Fun for a read aloud session.
These piggie and elephant books crack me up. I don't think the kids really get all the sarcasm and/or facial expressions in them, but adults sure can.
How Mo Willems can express such tone and feelings just by simple drawings is amazing to me.
Similar to his Pigeon books, but with more words.
Great for beginner readers.
How Mo Willems can express such tone and feelings just by simple drawings is amazing to me.
Similar to his Pigeon books, but with more words.
Great for beginner readers.
This book is on the 2010 Capitol Choices list of Noteworthy titles for Children up to seven. Mo Willems is fast becoming one of my favorite authors of children's books. This "Beginning Reader" teaches the lesson that it doesn't matter how good you are at something as long as you have fun doing it!
The Elephant and Piggie series is a priceless contribution to early readers. Instead of a forgettable storyline and flat characters, these stories brim with life and spunk and leave parents and children happy to read them again and again. This is the funniest of them all to me, and my favorite.
Apr 11, 2011
Heather Torgersen
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
1st-grade,
animals,
beginners,
dialogue,
differences,
fiction,
friendship,
fun-read,
funny,
great-for-read-alouds,
humor,
kinder,
language-arts,
large-group,
read-aloud,
series,
mo-willems
Piggie, the always more carefree of this 'best friends duo', is ready to have a fun time learning to throw a ball, but Gerald takes it much more seriously! One of my favorite lessons from the Elephant and Piggie series is that even best friends can be VERY different, and thats ok!
This is a cute, fairly new, easy reader series. There are two main characters, the very serious Elephant and the fun loving Piggie. Simple and delightful. They are nice if you do not wan to read a long book or if you have a child just learning to read that wants to read to you!
Jun 05, 2009
Elizabeth
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
humans of all ages
Recommended to Elizabeth by:
Mo Willems while out touring
Shelves:
picture-books
The Elephant and Piggie books are not to be missed! Though for children, adults will enjoy reading these early readers too. Also, this series of books are quite philosophical: the optimist versus the pessimist. Impulsiveness versus cautiousness.
Charming. Charming. Charming.
Charming. Charming. Charming.
i lict win pige fro the bol but jold yeld at hr so then jold fro the bol and he sed woo woo love grace
(I liked when piggy threw the ball, but Gerald yelled at her, so then Gerald threw the ball and he said "WOO WOO"! Love, Grace
(I liked when piggy threw the ball, but Gerald yelled at her, so then Gerald threw the ball and he said "WOO WOO"! Love, Grace
May 22, 2011
Marcie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Keri Howard
Recommended to Marcie by:
Denise
Shelves:
writing-mentor-texts
All the Elephant and Piggie Books make great partner read and writing models. I think this one appeals to adults more than the kids, but I love the positive attitude of Piggie. Is this a denial of Practice makes perfect? Or just a reinforcement of what I used to say to Jon, "Attitude isn't everything, It's the only thing"
I absolutely love this series of books, and this one certainly didn't disappoint. And I love how my 6 yo reads them to me, with plenty of enthusiasm and dramatic effect, which always leaves me in stitches just laughing and laughing until the end.
One of the great elephant and piggie books. Piggie throws Gerald's ball and it goes behind her so that she cannot see it. Her reaction as to where the ball went is classic Mo. I read this book to elementary school children and they love it (as do I.)
Yes, five stars - they resonate with me, make me think and laugh, and are a hit with everyone I share them with.
In this one Piggie's facial expression is so aggressive it's almost demonic. But ya gotta love her ebullient effervescent exuberance.
In this one Piggie's facial expression is so aggressive it's almost demonic. But ya gotta love her ebullient effervescent exuberance.
You've just gotta love Elephant and Piggie. The emotions Mo Willems brings to both in this simple book are perfect. Elephant's frustrated perfectionism and Piggy's wild exuberance are both right on the money! What fun!
Gerald has worked hard perfecting his throw. He is worried Piggie isn't taking his pastime seriously enough, but all Piggie wants to do is have some fun. Hilarity ensues when Piggie actually does throw the ball!
Another in the great Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems. This one see Gerald and Piggie throwing the ball in different ways. Sweet and funny, this is a book you can come back to a hundred times, which you will.
The idea of fun is what I like! Mo did a great job again it seems I will always love anything that Mo does. I throw a lot like this myself. Another make me smile. Great for a beginning reader. Ages 4+
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#1 New York Times Bestselling author and illustrator Mo Willems is best known for his Caldecott Honor winning picture books Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and Knuffle Bunny: a cautionary tale.
In addition to such picture books as Leonardo the Terrible Monster, Edwina the Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct, and Time to Pee, Mo has created the Elephant and Piggie books, a series of early r...more
More about Mo Willems...
In addition to such picture books as Leonardo the Terrible Monster, Edwina the Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct, and Time to Pee, Mo has created the Elephant and Piggie books, a series of early r...more
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Jan 31, 2012 06:18pm
Jan 31, 2012 06:20pm